Contactless sensing of a fluid-immersed electric motor

• US 10,160,276 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2014
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
• Inventors: Tucker, Clive, Gorelik, Vladimir, Leehey, Jonathan R., Driscoll, Robert, O'Shea, Colin Patrick, Schneider, Johannes, Wendell, Ross J., Sawyer, Tyson David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamo, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bobish, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/242,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20140294625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 4174104, 4174103, 280 552
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/265 hydraulic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/14 having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air fluid springs with an accumulator B60G11/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/00 Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load levelling or stabilising systems for tippers B60P1/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0152 characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/90 Other conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/06 using both gas and liquid F16F9/486 take precedence; self-pumping fluid springs B60G17/044
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/19 with a single cylinder and of single-tube type
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/512 Means responsive to load action, i.e. static load on the damper or dynamic fluid pressure changes in the damper, e.g. due to changes in velocity F16F9/504, F16F9/516 take precedence; non-automatic damper adjustment from a distance using servo control, the servo pressure being created by the flow of damping fluid F16F9/465; self-pumping fluid springs in vehicle suspensions B60G17/044
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/215 Magnetic effect devices, e.g. Hall-effect or magneto-resistive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/22 Optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 29/08 using magnetic effect devices, e.g. Hall-plates, magneto-resistors H02K29/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 29/10 using light effect devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/12 specially adapted for operating in liquid or gas combined with cooling arrangements H02K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 : structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/16 : Circuit arrangements for detecting position

Abstract

A method and system for measuring rotor position or velocity in an electric motor disposed in hydraulic fluid. The system comprises a contactless position sensor that measures electric motor rotor via magnetic, optical, or other means through a diaphragm that is permeable to the sensing means but impervious to the hydraulic fluid. An electronic sensor is positioned outside the operating fluid, whereas the motor is located in the fluid volume.

Claims

1. A system comprising;

an active suspension system in a vehicle interposed between a wheel mount and a vehicle body, the active suspension system comprising;

an actuator body;

a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the actuator body;

a contactless position sensor;

an electric motor at least partially immersed in hydraulic fluid and coupled to the hydraulic pump, the electric motor comprising a rotor with a sensor target wherein the contactless position sensor senses an angular position of the rotor;

a diaphragm that isolates the contactless position sensor from the hydraulic fluid;

an energy source; and

a controller in electrical communication with the contactless position sensor, and wherein the controller sources energy from the energy source for use by the electric motor to control the active suspension at least partially based on the sensed angular position of the rotor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a BLDC motor, and wherein in response to the sensed angular position of the rotor the controller commutates the electric motor to create at least one of a torque and velocity characteristic in the motor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein creating at least one of a torque and velocity characteristic in the motor creates a force from the active suspension system.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the response to the sensed angular position of the rotor comprises the controller applying a vehicle dynamics algorithm that uses at least one of rotor velocity, active suspension actuator velocity, actuator position, actuator velocity, wheel velocity, wheel acceleration, and wheel position to control operation of the electric motor using the sensed angular position of the rotor.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the response to the sensed angular position of the rotor comprises the controller applying a hydraulic ripple cancellation algorithm to control operation of the electric motor using the sensed angular position of the rotor.